Health and safety: police force sells motorbikes

by **Renny** » Fri May 08, 2009 3:49 pm

See Telegraph Article.

Maybe there are questions Northumbria should be asking about their rider training?

by **jont** » Fri May 08, 2009 3:52 pm

How long before Police aren't allowed to chase criminals in case the criminals fight back and the officers are hurt?

<edit>
"Everything that can be done with a bike can also be done with a car."
Filtering through traffic? (well, okay, B&T). Love to see any cars managing wheelies.... :twisted:

by **jbsportstech** » Fri May 08, 2009 3:54 pm

Ok yes they will remain in motor patrol so will they buy more cars or ride 3/4 up everywhere?

H/s gone mad.

by **MGF** » Fri May 08, 2009 3:56 pm

I can't see this has much to do with H and S despite the Chief Superintendent's claim. More like a redistribution of resources. It will however give certain sections of the Press and the public something to complain about.

Indeed CS McKay appears to be a bit of cost-cutter (not necessarily a bad thing).

I referred earlier to Chief Superintendent Neil McKay, who has been one of the leading proponents of removing one of the helicopters. I find it amazing that he can back such a plan, given that he was the officer in charge of the recent derby football match between Newcastle and the Maccums—Sunderland. The derby matches are usually painted with elements of disorder because what cannot be counted as victorious on the pitch is regularly redressed in the streets in an improper fashion. Chief Superintendent McKay was in charge of police control on that day. I wonder how he would have managed with one helicopter. On the day he needed two and called on them, yet he thinks that they should be reduced to one. Frankly, I have to question his logic, as I had to do with the Home Secretary on 29 November 2005 regarding the reorganisation.

by **zadocbrown** » Fri May 08, 2009 4:17 pm

Bizarre. I don't see how it's going to save much money. They still have to pay the officers and if they can't ride won't they need more cars instead? I wonder what will happen at the next change of management.......... they'll probably decide that motorcycles are an essential resource and have to resurrect them at hideous expense! :roll:

by **waremark** » Fri May 08, 2009 7:18 pm

I had to check the date of the article to see that it was not 1st April. This decision seems so crass that there must be some arguments for it which we are missing.

by **vannut** » Sat May 09, 2009 9:15 am

"Everything that can be done with a bike can also be done with a car."

He's obviously never been involved in a Royal Visit motorcade....

. :roll:

by **wheelnut** » Fri May 15, 2009 1:32 pm

It's nothing to do with H & S and more to do with a refusal to commit to proper use of the bikes and training of the riders. As I understand it they are a part time bike section which is never a good thing. To expect a bike trained driver to drive a car for three months and then jump on a bike operationally is absolutely crazy. Bike sections need to be full time and if they can't commit to that then maybe they are doing the right thing.

by **Red Herring** » Fri May 15, 2009 3:58 pm

Does their neighbouring force have a motorcycle team. You may find under some of the collaboration projects currently underway between forces that they have agreed one will have a bike team and the other some other speciality.

by **Angus** » Sun May 17, 2009 1:08 pm

Essex did away with their bikes a few years ago. Our biker casualties rocketed. The bikes are back

by **Horse** » Mon May 18, 2009 9:03 am

Angus wrote:Essex did away with their bikes a few years ago. Our biker casualties rocketed. The bikes are back

They [Essex] used to run Bikesafe - and IIRC used to borrow bikes & riders from another county.

Haven't they re-equipped with s/h machines from Jersey or suchlike?

Health and safety: police force sells motorbikes

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